The Pharaohs are last in Group D, but here’s the twist: all four teams have three points from two games, making it the most open group of them all. On goal difference, Rui Vitoria’s team is last in the standings (-1). In their first match, they beat Guinea 1-0, but in their second match, they lost 2-0 to Ethiopia.
Egypt is looking to restart their qualifying campaign after three straight victories before the international break. Mohamed Salah, a star player for Liverpool, has returned to the team and wants to become the second player to score 50 goals for his country.
After starting their campaign with a 2-1 loss to Ethiopia, Malawi is now second in the group after losing 1-0 to Guinea. For the first time, the Flames want to qualify for the AFCON in consecutive seasons.
Prediction
Egypt are ranked 85 places higher than Malawi and have a great team led by the unstoppable Mohamed Salah, who will pose the single greatest threat to the hosts if he starts.
Malawi, on the other hand, lacks both experience and quality by a wide margin and may decline despite their best efforts.
Prediction: Egypt 1-0 Malawi
Head-to-Head
- The two teams have met ten times, with Egypt winning exactly half of those matches and losing three times.
- Egypt was last defeated by Malawi in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match in June 2008.
- The last time Egypt and Malawi met was in June 2015, when the Pharaohs won a friendly match 2-1.
- Malawi’s last two matches, against Saudi Arabia and Lesotho, ended in a 1-1 draw.
- Egypt has not conceded in any of their three previous home victories (1-0 against Guinea, 3-0 against Niger, and 3-0 against Liberia).
- Egypt are looking to make it four straight wins for the first time since 2019 after winning their last three games.
Team news
Egypt’s 24-man squad for the doubleheader features Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, and the two-time African Player of the Year will undoubtedly be someone to keep an eye on.
Mohamed has likewise conveyed when called upon in assault and the Nantes striker, who has six objectives in the Ligue 1 this season, will push for a beginning job.
In addition to the Pyramids’ defensive trio of Ali Gabr, Osama Galal, and Mohamed Hamdy, Midtjylland midfielder Emam Ashour will try to impress on Friday.
Along with veteran Micium Mhone and Stain Davie, the former Orlando Pirates striker, who has scored 22 goals for the national team, will lead the visitors’ attack.
Silver Striker goalkeeper Charles Thomu should start at the defensive end of the field, and Lawrence Chaziya and Gomezgani Chirwa, who started the first two qualifying matches, should remain in place at center back.
Lineup
Egypt
- Gabal
- Gaber, Hamdi, Ashraf
- Ashour, Afsha, El-Solia, Fathi
- Salah, Mohamed, Zizo
Malawi
- Thom
- Sanudi, Chaziya, Chembezi, Chirwa
- Idana, Banda, Madinga
- Davie, Mhone, Msowoya
Betting Tips
Result: Goals scored by Egypt: Both teams to score under 2.5: No
Where to watch
Sky Sports Football.